Ed Littman: Ed Littman's Splatt

Glenn Astarita

Senior Contributor since 1997

Longtime contributor to AAJ and Downbeat, Jazz Review, EjazzNews, Radio DirectX.

Recent articles (1,632 total)

Published: June 1, 2001

New York City-based guitarist Ed Littman follows up My Window with this newly released effort by his band known as Splatt. On My Window Littman enjoyed the musical company of laudable session aces and ex-Pat Metheny group performers, bassist Mark Egan and drummer Danny Gottlieb. Yet here, the leader, bassist Danny Zanker and drummer John Bollinger extend or perhaps ceremoniously discombobulate some previously explored concepts that highlight the guitarist’s acute improvising skills and seemingly widespread musical vernacular. – (Littman is also a seasoned jingles/film score composer and writer of educational tomes)

Basically, the trio pulls out the stops as they incorporate and an amalgamation of disparate genres, whether it is, free-jazz, grunge rock, turntable fare, EFX induced loops, or shades of hard rock. However, the musicians’ abide by a loosely structured framework as they utilize space and depth to their advantage amid generous soloing opportunities, whereas they also pursue abstract lyricism atop polyrhythmic beats. Overall, “Splatt” sustains interest despite a few lags in the flow, where the musicians seem to meander and elicit notions of a band expounding upon relatively nondescript riffs, otherwise there’s a whole lot of thought provoking stuff going on under the hood...

Ed Littman

Track Listing: Trap-Op, Grind It, Loner, Radio Ready, Avar-Hove, Gear Winder, Yippy, Plus, Night Sky, Godda Quarters, Swank, Watch Your Step, Another Emotion

Personnel: Ed Littman; guitars, percussion, turntable, backward tapes, & sound effects: Danny Zanker; acoustic & electric bass: John Bollinger; drums & screems

Record Label: Yeahman Records
Style: Modern Jazz